Melissa Leong hints that she will lift the lid on MasterChef in new book amid rumours she could return to the cooking show

Melissa Leong has teased that she will lift the lid on her time on MasterChef Australia in an upcoming book release.

The food critic, 43, was a judge on Channel 10’s cooking competition for three years but left last year amid a huge hosting shake-up.

She has since joined the spin-off show Dessert Masters as a judge and has been repeatedly hit with rumors that she could be preparing a return to MasterChef.

Now Melissa has hinted that she will tell all about her time on MasterChef, as she teased that she is working on a memoir about her life and career.

Melissa asked fans via her Instagram Stories on Friday what they would like to read about in the book, which led to a whole series of responses.

An enthusiastic fan asked her if she would record ‘MasterChef behind-the-scenes stories’, to which Melissa replied that she would.

In an Instagram post, Melissa teased that she’ll be telling “a lot” of MasterChef stories “behind the scenes” in a memoir she’s currently working on

“Oh, there’s a lot of them, don’t worry,” she teased in a cryptic response.

She also revealed that she will discuss other aspects of her career, including her little-known passion for UFC, while each chapter will also include a recipe.

However, Melissa urged fans to stop asking her about aspects of her life that she has “publicly drawn the line” under, as she hinted that some things in the book will be off-limits.

“Anything I’ve already publicly drawn a line on is out of the question, so please don’t ask me. That’s not really fair to me,” she shared in another post.

‘Thank you very much for all your questions. Other than that, it’s all there, but it does help me know what to look out for.’

Her exciting new project comes after Melissa was hit with rumors she could be preparing a return to MasterChef Australia.

Melissa left the program last year under a cloud of suspicion over an alleged feud with her former co-host Andy Allen, who still serves as a judge.

“Melissa told Ten she will return to MasterChef Australia when Andy Allen leaves,” a TV insider recently told Ny Breaking Australia.

The food critic, 43, famously judged Channel 10’s cooking competition for three years but left last year amid a huge hosting shake-up.

Her exciting new project comes amid rumors she could be lining up a return to MasterChef following allegations of a ‘feud’ with her former co-judge Andy Allen (both pictured)

“I think the idea of ​​returning to what the show once was to her seems a bit daunting, and the only way Melissa could ever return is if the entire format were revamped.”

Melissa shocked fans when she shared the news of her departure on Instagram the day before Network Ten’s 2024 Upfronts.

“The changing of the guard is one that I have always wanted to embrace, and I am so happy that today I can do so on my terms,” ​​she wrote in a statement last October.

Melissa’s departure came after claims she was fired following a series of publicized off-camera dramas.

She infamously fell out with the show’s hair and makeup team in 2022, along with a replacement freelance hairstylist.

“Andy has no issues with Leong,” the source told Ny Breaking Australia. ‘But he previously said that his former colleague wasted a lot of time on hair and make-up.

‘He felt her control over what was being filmed was being compromised by her perfectionism.’

Andy returned to the show this year alongside three new judges: media darling Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and Melbourne food critic Sofia Levin.

Melissa has since taken on a new role on MasterChef spin-off show Dessert Masters, alongside French-Swiss pastry chef Amaury Guichon.